Configurable Exercise Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A configurable exercise apparatus with an assembly body that has a top surface for accommodating the palm of a user&#39;s hand placed flatly palm down upon the top surface, and a bottom surface; a roller ball positioned within the assembly body with a portion of the roller ball protruding from the bottom surface; and a removable convex cap having an annular extension for insertion into an annular recess formed in the bottom surface about the roller ball, the removable convex cap covering the roller ball when inserted into the annular recess.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to fitness and exerciseapparatuses and more particularly to exercise apparatuses for use inperforming push-ups, shoulder exercises, and various abdominal and corestrength exercises.

BACKGROUND

Push-ups, squats, isometrics, and many other exercises that involveapplying exertion to a fixed supporting surface provide convenient andportable strength training methods as they can rely primarily on bodyweight, with no requirement of additional weights. However, many suchexercises fail to engage secondary muscles or muscle groups that wouldbe required to balance and stabilize a body part, such as a hand orfoot, against secondary movements of the body part, which is held fixedby its engagement with the fixed supporting surface. Body weightstrength-training exercises are more effective athletically when suchexercises challenge a user to stabilize a body part against secondarymovements while the body part transmits a primary force exerted by aprimarily trained muscle or muscle group to a fixed supporting surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an apparatus in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of the top surface of the assembly body of theapparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the convexcap installed.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the convexcap removed such that the roller ball may be utilized.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of an apparatus in accordance withan embodiment having a flange.

FIG. 6A is a detail cross-sectional side view of the flange in FIG. 6,showing the bores or recesses to accommodate the bolt heads and threadednuts in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of an apparatus in accordance withan embodiment having a roller ball bearing assembly.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodimenthaving a plurality of roller balls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Briefly, the present disclosure provides a configurable exerciseapparatus with an assembly body that has a top surface for accommodatingat least the palm, and in some embodiments also the fingertips, of auser's hand placed flatly palm down upon the top surface, and a bottomsurface; a roller ball positioned within the assembly body with aportion of the roller ball protruding from the bottom surface; and aremovable convex cap having an annular extension for insertion into anannular recess formed in the bottom surface about the roller ball, theremovable convex cap covering the roller ball when inserted into theannular recess.

In some embodiments the assembly body may be substantially rectangular.In other embodiments, the top surface may have another shape suitable toaccommodate the user's hand, or a portion thereof while providingaesthetic design features. For example, the assembly body may besubstantially an oval, substantially circular, substantiallyrectangular, substantially an octagon, or some other parallelogram orpolygon shape, etc. In some embodiments, the assembly body is made up ofan assembly body top portion and an assembly body bottom portion, wherethe roller ball is seated within the assembly body top portion andprotruding through the assembly body bottom portion. In some embodimentsthe roller ball may have a diameter of approximately 2.5 inches.

In some embodiments the assembly body has a circular recess in thebottom surface and a seating for the roller ball, and the apparatus alsoincludes a flange positioned within the circular recess in the bottomsurface such that the flange top surface is substantially flush with thebottom surface and such that the flange secures the roller ball in theseating.

In some embodiments the assembly body top surface may include aplurality of recesses such that a bolt head or threaded nut securing abolt is within the recess and below the top surface. In some embodimentsthe apparatus may include a plurality of bolts securing the flangewithin the circular recess to the assembly body, with each bolt head orthreaded nut of each bolt within a respective recess of the plurality ofrecesses in the top surface. In some embodiments the annular recesssurrounds an outer diameter of the flange top surface such that theremovable convex cap covers the roller ball and the flange when insertedinto the annular recess.

In some embodiments the apparatus may further include a circular recessin the bottom surface and a cylindrical recess within the circularrecess; and a roller ball bearing assembly having a flange portionpositioned within the circular recess in the bottom surface, such thatthe flange portion top surface is substantially flush with the bottomsurface and such that a cylindrical portion of the roller ball bearingassembly is within the cylindrical recess. Further in some embodimentsthe roller ball bearing assembly may be secured to the assembly body bya threaded portion of the roller ball bearing assembly threaded into thebottom of the cylindrical recess. In other embodiments, the roller ballbearing assembly may be secured to the assembly body by press fitting.In such embodiments the annular recess surrounds an outer diameter ofthe flange portion such that the removable convex cap covers the rollerball bearing assembly when inserted into the annular recess.

In the various embodiments the assembly body may be formed from anengineered plastic material. Some specific examples of materials thatmay be used to form the assembly body include, but are not limited to,nylon, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene(LDPE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, aluminum, andwood. Further, in the various embodiments, the assembly body may beformed using an additive manufacturing process.

Another disclosed embodiment provides an apparatus that has an assemblybody having a top surface for accommodating at least the palm, and insome embodiments also the fingertips, of a user's hand placed flatlypalm down upon the top surface, and a bottom surface; a roller ballpositioned within the assembly body with a portion of roller ballprotruding from the bottom surface; a flange securing the roller ballwithin the assembly body; and a removable convex cap having an annularextension for insertion into an annular recess formed about an outerdiameter of the flange, the removable convex cap covering the rollerball and the flange when inserted into the annular recess.

Such embodiments may also include a circular recess in the assembly bodybottom surface, with the flange positioned within the circular recess,such that a flange top surface is substantially flush with the bottomsurface.

Another disclosed embodiment provides an apparatus that has an assemblybody with a top surface for accommodating the palm of a user's handplaced flatly palm down upon the top surface, and a bottom surface; aplurality of roller balls positioned such that a portion of eachrespective roller ball protrudes from the bottom surface; and aremovable convex cap having an annular extension for insertion into anannular recess formed in the bottom surface about the plurality ofroller balls, where the removable convex cap covers the roller ballswhen inserted into the annular recess.

In some embodiments the apparatus may further include a plurality ofroller ball bearing assemblies, each roller ball bearing assemblyincluding a roller ball. In some embodiments the plurality of rollerball bearing assemblies may be connected to the assembly body bottomsurface, while in other embodiments the plurality of roller ball bearingassemblies may be inserted into a corresponding plurality of recesses inthe assembly body bottom surface.

Turning now to the drawings wherein like numerals represent likecomponents, FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an apparatus 100 inaccordance with an embodiment. The apparatus includes an assembly bodycomprising a top surface 117 for accommodating the palm of a user's handplaced flatly palm down upon the top surface, and a bottom surface 113.A roller ball 111 is positioned within the assembly body with a portionof the roller ball protruding from the bottom surface 113. A removableconvex cap 103 includes an annular extension 105 which may be insertedinto an annular recess 107 formed in the bottom surface 113 about theouter diameter of a flange 109. The flange 109 surrounds and maintainsthe roller ball 111 within the assembly body. The removable convex cap103 covers the roller ball 111 when inserted into the annular recess107.

In use, two of the apparatuses 100 are needed in order to perform someexercises however some exercises may be performed using only oneapparatus 100. For example, with the convex cap 103 installed, and usingtwo apparatuses 100, the user may perform pushups. The convex cap 103 isstationary on a carpeted or hardwood floor and creates a challenge byrequiring the user to exert balancing forces when performing pushups.With the convex cap 103 removed, the user may perform more challengingpush-ups, or may perform abdominal exercises (similar to using an abroller device) by pushing their arms forwardly outward away from thebody and then pulling them back in with their feet stationary on thefloor behind them. The apparatus 100 may also allow the user to performa variety of chest and shoulder exercises by allowing their arms toglide outwardly to the sides away from their body at various angles.This motion can work the shoulder, chest muscle complex as well as thecore muscle group. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1apparatus 100 assembly body is substantially rectangular, however theapparatus 100 assembly body may be any of various shapes such as, butnot limited to, substantially an oval, substantially circular,substantially an octagon, or some other parallelogram or polygon shape,etc. In accordance with the embodiments, the apparatus 100 is aconfigurable exercise apparatus and that it may be utilized with theconvex cap 103 installed, or with the convex cap 103 removed such thatthe roller ball 111 may be utilized.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the apparatus 100 shown inFIG. 1. An assembly body top portion 101 and an assembly body bottomportion 102 may be connected together using various means (not shown)such as, but not limited to, machine bolts, plastic forms snap togetherconnections, dowel pins, adhesives, etc. or combinations thereof. Inother embodiments, the assembly body can be a single piece formed bymolding, 3D printing, or machining depending upon the materialsemployed. The roller ball 111 is seated in a roller ball seating 115which is within the assembly body top portion 101 and protruding throughthe assembly body bottom portion 102. The annular recess 107 surroundsthe roller ball 111 and the flange 109 top surface which faces the samedirection as the bottom surface 113 of the assembly body bottom portion102.

It is to be understood that the terms “top,” “bottom,” “side,” “front,”“rear,” etc. are relative terms which are used herein to facilitatedescription of the various drawing views but are not intended to belimitations as to various configurations that may be used in accordancewith the various embodiments disclosed herein.

In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the rollerball 111 has a diameter of approximately 2.5 inches. The width of theassembly body which includes the assembly body top portion 101 and theassembly body bottom portion 102, is approximately equal to the diameterof the roller ball 111. However, the thickness or width of the assemblybody must only be proportionate to the roller ball used in the specificembodiment in order to provide space for adequate seating of the rollerball. Therefore, various diameters of roller ball may be used inaccordance with the various embodiments and are not limited to diameterof approximately 2.5 inches.

FIG. 3 is a view of the top surface 117 of the assembly body of theapparatus 100 and shows the outline of a human hand 119 such as how auser's hand may be placed during the performance of push-ups or otherexercises using the apparatus 100. FIG. 4 provides a side view of theapparatus 100 with the convex cap 103 installed. In this case the usermaintains the apparatus 100 in a stationary position to perform apush-up and places his or her hand 119 palm down upon the top surface117 to exert a downward force 121. The convex surface of the convex cap103 contacts the floor 122.

During the performance of push-ups, the user has to overcome a tiltingtendency 123 in all directions extending radially outward from thecenterline shown through the convex cap 103 to the approximate positionof the heel of the user's hand 119. FIG. 5 is a side view of theapparatus 100 with the convex cap 103 removed such that the roller ball111 may be utilized. In this case the user may still use the apparatus100 to perform push-ups, and has the added challenge of having toovercome frontward motion 125, backward motion 127, leftward motion 129,and rightward motion 131, as well as an omni-axial tilting tendency 124(including, but not limited to, a frontward/rearward tilting T indicatedin FIG. 5) due to the roller ball 111 being in contact with the floor122 and tending to roll. Alternatively, the user may make use of theforward motion 125 and the backward motion 127 to perform an abdominalexercise by rolling their arms outwardly in front of their body and thendrawing them back in thereby working the core muscles. In yet anotheralternative use, the user may move the apparatus 100 outward away fromthe body to the sides to perform a shoulder and/or chest strengtheningexercise. The roller ball 111 allows the apparatus 100 to move radiallyfrom the centerline shown in FIG. 5 in any direction. Put another way,the roller ball is omnidirectional.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus 200 in accordance withan embodiment having a flange 209. The assembly body 201 includes acircular recess 210 in the bottom surface 213 and a seating 215 for aroller ball 211. The apparatus 200 also includes a flange 209 positionedwithin the circular recess 210 in the bottom surface 213, such that theflange 209 top surface is substantially flush with the bottom surface213 and such that the flange 209 secures the roller ball 211 in theseating 215. The example apparatus 200 assembly body top surface 217 mayinclude a plurality of bores or recesses 227 such that a bolt head orthreaded nut 223 securing a bolt 221 is within the recess 227 and belowthe top surface 217 to avoid contacting the user's hand. The bores orrecesses are shown in further detail in FIG. 6A.

The apparatus 200 therefore may include a set of bolts 221 to secure theflange 209 within the circular recess 210 to the assembly body 201, witheach bolt head or threaded nut 223 of each bolt 221 within a respectivebore or recess 227 of the set of recesses in the top surface 217. Theflange 209 may also include bores or recesses 225 to accommodate thebolt 221 bolt heads for aesthetics. An annular recess 207 surrounds anouter diameter of the flange 209 top surface such that the removableconvex cap 203 covers the roller ball 211 and the flange 209 when anannular extension 205 is inserted into the annular recess 207.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of an apparatus 300 in accordancewith an embodiment having a roller ball bearing assembly 319, such asfor example, a commercially available ball caster or conveyor ballbearing assembly. The apparatus 300 assembly body 301 includes acircular recess 310 in the bottom surface and a cylindrical recess 312within an inner diameter of the circular recess 310. A roller ballbearing assembly 319 having a flange portion 309 positioned within thecircular recess 310 in the bottom surface 313, such that the flangeportion 309 top surface is substantially flush with the bottom surface313 and such that a cylindrical portion of the roller bearing assembly319 is within the cylindrical recess 312. The roller ball bearingassembly 319 is secured to the assembly body 301 either by press fittingthe roller ball bearing assembly 319 into the cylindrical recess 312, byengaging a threaded portion 315 threaded into the bottom of thecylindrical recess 312, or by a combination of both. An annular recesssurrounds an outer diameter of the flange portion 309 such that theremovable convex cap (not shown) covers the roller ball bearing assembly319 when inserted into the annular recess 307. A roller ball 311 ofroller ball bearing assembly 319, or a convex cap, may then be placedagainst a floor and the user may place their hand on the top surface 317to perform exercises using the apparatus 300.

In all of the disclosed embodiments the assembly body may be formed froman engineered plastic material. Examples of materials that may be usedin forming the assembly body include, but are not limited to, nylon,high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE),acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, aluminum, and wood. Thevarious pieces of the assembly body may be formed of the same ordifferent materials. The assembly body may be formed using an additivemanufacturing process such as 3D printing, or may be formed usinginjection molding processes including multi-material injection molding.The various recesses may be formed as part of the molding process orpart of the 3D printing process, or may be added to the assembly body bymachining in some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of an apparatus 400 in accordance with anembodiment having two or more roller ball bearings. As with thepreviously described embodiments, the apparatus 400 includes an assemblybody having a top surface for accommodating the palm of a user's handplaced flatly palm down upon the top surface, and a bottom surface. Inthis example, the apparatus 400 a set of three roller balls 411 arepositioned such that the roller balls 411 protrude from the bottomsurface 402 of the assembly body 401. A removable convex cap (not shown)also has an annular extension for insertion into an annular recess 407formed in the bottom surface 402 about an outer diameter surrounding theroller balls 411. When installed, the removable convex cap covers theroller balls 411.

In some embodiments, the set of roller balls 411 may be a set of rollerball bearing assemblies, where each roller ball bearing assemblyincludes a roller ball 411. In that case, the roller ball bearingassemblies may be connected to the assembly body bottom surface, or maybe inserted into a corresponding set of recesses in the assembly bodybottom surface where the recesses are designed to fit the specificroller ball bearing assemblies utilized.

While various embodiments have been illustrated and described, it is tobe understood that the invention is not so limited. Numerousmodifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents willoccur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. An apparatus comprising: an assembly body comprising a top surfacefor accommodating the palm of a user's hand placed flatly palm down uponthe top surface, and a bottom surface; a roller ball positioned withinthe assembly body with a portion of the roller ball protruding from thebottom surface; and a removable convex cap having an annular extensionfor insertion into an annular recess formed in the bottom surface aboutthe roller ball, the removable convex cap covering the roller ball wheninserted into the annular recess.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, where theassembly body is substantially rectangular.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2,further comprising: an assembly body top portion and an assembly bodybottom portion, the roller ball seated within the assembly body topportion and protruding through the assembly body bottom portion.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the roller ball has a diameter ofapproximately 2.5 inches.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: a circular recess in the bottom surface and a seating forthe roller ball; and a flange positioned within the circular recess inthe bottom surface, such that the flange top surface is substantiallyflush with the bottom surface and such that the flange secures theroller ball in the seating.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein theassembly body top surface comprises: a plurality of recesses such that abolt head or threaded nut securing a bolt is within the recess and belowthe top surface.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: aplurality of bolts securing the flange within the circular recess to theassembly body, with each bolt head or threaded nut of each bolt within arespective recess of the plurality of recesses in the top surface. 8.The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the annular recess surrounds an outerdiameter of the flange top surface such that the removable convex capcovers the roller ball and the flange when inserted into the annularrecess.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a circularrecess in the bottom surface and a cylindrical recess within thecircular recess; and a roller ball bearing assembly having a flangeportion positioned within the circular recess in the bottom surface,such that the flange portion top surface is substantially flush with thebottom surface and such that a cylindrical portion of the roller bearingassembly is within the cylindrical recess.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the roller ball bearing assembly is secured to the assembly bodyby a threaded portion of the roller ball bearing assembly threaded intothe bottom of the cylindrical recess.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the annular recess surrounds an outer diameter of the flangeportion such that the removable convex cap covers the roller ballbearing assembly when inserted into the annular recess.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 1, where the assembly body is formed from anengineered plastic material.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, where theassembly body is formed from a material selected from the group of:nylon, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene(LDPE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, aluminum andwood.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, where the assembly body is formedusing an additive manufacturing process.
 15. An apparatus comprising: anassembly body having a top surface for accommodating the palm of auser's hand placed flatly palm down upon the top surface, and a bottomsurface; a roller ball positioned within the assembly body with aportion of roller ball protruding from the bottom surface; a flangesecuring the roller ball within the assembly body; and a removableconvex cap having an annular extension for insertion into an annularrecess formed about an outer diameter of the flange, the removableconvex cap covering the roller ball and the flange when inserted intothe annular recess.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: acircular recess in the assembly body bottom surface, with the flangepositioned within the circular recess, such that a flange top surface issubstantially flush with the bottom surface.
 17. An apparatuscomprising: an assembly body comprising a top surface for accommodatingthe palm of a user's hand placed flatly palm down upon the top surface,and a bottom surface; a plurality of roller balls positioned such thatthe roller balls protrude from the bottom surface; and a removableconvex cap having an annular extension for insertion into an annularrecess formed in the bottom surface about the plurality of roller balls,the removable convex cap covering the roller balls when inserted intothe annular recess.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: aplurality of roller ball bearing assemblies, each roller ball bearingassembly including a roller ball.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherethe plurality of roller ball bearing assemblies are connected to theassembly body bottom surface.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18, where theplurality of roller ball bearing assemblies are inserted into acorresponding plurality of recesses in the assembly body bottom surface.